Spring Weekend Entertains, Raises $7K for Charities

Rich Fletcher--The Tech
The highlight of the annual East Campus Spring Picnic was the tug-of-war competition. For the second year in a row, the event was won by the Second West hall team.

By Angela LiaoStaff Reporter

The 10th annual Mr. Spring Weekend contest last Thursday, sponsored by
the Women's Independent Living Group, kicked off a series of Spring Weekend
events that entertained students while benefiting many local charities to
the tune of over $7,000.

"Mr. Spring Weekend went great this year. We doubled last year's
donation to Boston Rape Crisis," said M. Josie Ammer '97, coordinator of
the contest. Mr. Spring Weekend 1995 himself, Arturo F. Rosales '96, won
the title by impressing the audience in a talent competition, a
"non-conformal" evening wear competition, and a short question-and-answer
session.

Other Spring Weekend events included a concert by Sonic Youth, a Lecture
Series Committee presentation of "Hoop Dreams," the annual Alpha Phlea
Market, Las Vegas Night/Bachelor Auction, Chi Phi's Earth Day Carnival, and
the East Campus Spring Picnic.

Market, bachelor auction draw crowds

Sonic Youth and the cover bands Mistle Thrush and Helium drew a crowd of
about 1,500 to the Johnson Athletic Center Saturday night. "A fair amount
of people from other schools showed up, along with local commercial and
college radio stations," said Chris S. Schnyer '96, who coordinated the
concert.

"I was really impressed by Mistle Thrush, who played at MIT before.
Helium and Sonic Youth were not as energetic as I had hoped, but generally
[it was] a pretty good show," Schnyer said. "Sonic Youth played some new
stuff and that was nice."

Despite a short afternoon rain shower that forced the Alpha Phlea market
to move from the Student Center steps to the Kresge Auditorium lobby, the
second annual service auction sponsored by Alpha Phi sorority "went really
well and made about $2,850 for the America Health Foundation," said Kristin
L. Pierson '96, Alpha Phi public relations chair.

"We look forward to continue this event," Pierson said. "I think one
reason why it was such a success was because there's no admission charge
for the audience nor the service; all profits are made from money bid for
the services."

Alpha Tau Omega, the Undergraduate Association, the Interfraternity
Council, Wellesley's Starlight Foundation and Stanley Kaplan sponsored the
Las Vegas Night/Bachelor Auction which took place on Friday evening in
Lobdell.

"We made over $3,500 this year and what really surprised me was that
people bid up to $200 for bachelors," said Matt T. Kixmoeller '98, Alpha
Tau Omega's Community Service Chair. The profits for Las Vegas Night went
to Project America, Make a Wish Foundation, and the Margaret Fuller
House.

About 200 people participated in Chi Phi's Earth Day Carnival, with
proceeds going to the Nature Conservancy in celebration of Earth Day,
according to Stacey H. Chang '96, one of the event's organizers.

Spring Weekend was coordinated by the Undergraduate Association Social
Council, Residence and Campus Activities, the Office of Undergraduate
Education and Student Affairs, and the Campus Activities Complex.